During a House Judiciary Committee hearing, FBI Director Christopher Wray revealed that the gunman who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump may have had a firearm with a collapsible stock, allowing him to conceal the weapon more easily. The gunman had also researched President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, specifically Oswald’s distance from Kennedy. The gunman, Thomas Crooks, fired at least 8 shots and flew a drone near the rally’s main stage area in Butler, Pennsylvania. Authorities found explosive devices in Crooks’ car and recovered a transmitter from him that could remotely detonate the devices.
Crooks had visited a shooting range the day before the assassination attempt and was described as a shooting hobbyist. The House Oversight Committee is seeking more information about the incident, especially regarding how Crooks evaded law enforcement. Lawmakers are pressing for a detailed account of the events leading up to the shooting. The House Homeland Security Committee heard that officers had identified Crooks as suspicious before the shooting due to his behavior and possession of a rangefinder. However, he was not considered a direct threat until he opened fire, injuring Trump, killing one rallygoer, and injuring two others. The congressional hearings this week have shed light on the incident and raised questions about the response of law enforcement and security agencies in preventing and responding to such attacks.
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